Halo Universe Breaks New Ground With Unveiling of Halo Legends Anime Project

Microsoft teams up with top anime studios in creating a collection of original short films that take the "Halo" franchise to new frontiers.



A renowned set of storytellers from some of the world’s leading anime studios in Japan are about to take one of the most iconic franchises in science fiction and video games to a new level. Microsoft Corp., in collaboration with some of the most acclaimed anime creators, today unveiled a new project called “Halo Legends,” which will bring the “Halo” franchise and its sweeping sci-fi saga to an entirely new medium, in the form of several original anime short films.

“Halo Legends,” which will officially debut at a panel presentation today at Comic-Con International in San Diego, is being produced by Microsoft’s 343 Industries and features creative direction from anime pioneer Shinji Aramaki, director of the critically acclaimed “Appleseed” and “Appleseed EX Machina” anime features, and Mamoru Oshii, director of the landmark “Ghost in the Shell” movies, with additional production from Joseph Chou of J-Spec Pictures. The compilation will include a series of short stories that explore different times, themes and characters from the “Halo” universe and will be distributed globally by Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. company. Influential studios that are part of the project include the creators behind some of the most popular and celebrated anime to come from Japan, such as “The Animatrix,” “Cowboy Bebop,” “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Ghost in the Shell,” “Dragon Ball” and more.

“The opportunity to work with talents such as Shinji Aramaki, Mamoru Oshii and others from some of the greatest anime studios is a very rare opportunity for Microsoft,” said Frank O’Connor, “Halo” franchise development director and provider of story and creative direction for 343 Industries. “We’ve seen the world through Master Chief’s eyes, and we’ve experienced facets of the universe through a variety of literary prisms, but now we get to watch new tales unfold in really rich, visually dynamic ways. I think anime fans and ‘Halo’ fans alike are in for a real treat.”

Set hundreds of years in the future, the “Halo” series of games and novels chronicle mankind’s struggles against an alien collective known as the Covenant. The Covenant is scouring the universe for relics it believes will lead it to a new life and is destroying civilizations and planets that stand in its way. The most prolific hero from the fiction is a super soldier or Spartan known as Master Chief, who is the main protagonist in the original trilogy of Xbox and Xbox 360 “Halo” titles. In the trilogy, Master Chief discovers that the Covenant is intent on activating a series of mysterious ring worlds known as “Halos,” which would ultimately exterminate life throughout the universe. He becomes mankind’s champion in a race against an unrelenting enemy in its most desperate hour. Through The New York Times best-selling novels, comics and additional Xbox 360 games such as “Halo Wars” and the upcoming “Halo 3: ODST,” the universe has grown and tales of other heroes have emerged.

“‘Halo’ and its characters are a very natural fit for anime,” said Aramaki, creative director for the “Halo Legends” project. “As a fan of the ‘Halo’ universe, it is an honor to work with Microsoft and my very talented peers from other studios to create this collection.”

Studios involved in the “Halo Legends” project include Bones Inc., Casio Entertainment Inc., Production I.G, STUDIO4˚C and Toei Animation.

• Bones. Founded in 1998, Bones has become one of the top animation studios in Japan in less than a decade. The studio is best known for its incredible body of work on mega-hit franchises such as “Cowboy Bebop: The Movie,” “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Sword of the Stranger” and “Eureka Seven.”
• Casio Entertainment. Casio Entertainment was founded in 2004 and is renowned for its visual effects work on the movie “Dai Nipponjin” (“Big Man of Japan”), which was officially invited to the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for Best Visual Effects at the 2008 Asian Film Awards. Casio Entertainment is also known for its computer-generated animation support work on several top Japanese video games.
• Production I.G. Production I.G has produced a number of acclaimed feature films, original video animation, TV shows and video games. For their storytelling and quality of animation, “Ghost in the Shell,” “Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade” and “Blood: The Last Vampire” have earned critical accolades in Japan and all around the world. “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence,” directed by Mamoru Oshii in 2004, was the first Japanese animation feature ever to compete for the Palme d’Or at the Festival de Cannes.
• STUDIO4˚C. STUDIO4˚C is one of the top animation studios in Japan. Founded by the industry veteran Eiko Tanaka and acclaimed animation artist Koji Morimoto, it has become globally known for its uncanny ability to marry the spirit of high art with mainstream anime aesthetic. STUDIO4˚C is known for works including “The Animatrix,” “Tekkonkinkreet” and “Batman: Gotham Knight.”
• Toei Animation. Toei Animation, established in 1956, is the oldest animation studio in Japan. Toei has produced the largest number of global hit TV anime series for kids, such as “Dragon Ball,” “Digimon,” “Sailor Moon,” “One Piece” and many more.

The complete “Halo Legends” collection will be distributed by Microsoft partner Warner Home Video, which will have more to announce on its release and distribution plans soon.

“As a leading entertainment distributor and a company identified with premier anime content, we’re very pleased to be working with Microsoft on ‘Halo Legends,’” said Amit Desai, vice president, Family, Animation and Partner Brands Marketing, Warner Home Video. “The combination of the talent involved and the ‘Halo’ brand ensure the collection is something consumers are really going to enjoy.”

A preview of select “Halo Legends” episodes will first debut on Xbox LIVE, the largest gaming and entertainment network in the world, starting this fall through a new experience called Halo Waypoint. Launching in fall, Halo Waypoint will be a new destination for “Halo” fans on Xbox LIVE around the world. It will inform fans of the latest “Halo” news and activities, and grant access to content ranging from podcasts, trailers and screenshots, to exclusive video footage you won’t find anywhere else. It also will provide a new challenge for “Halo” gamers with a career system and player rankings tied to both in-game and out-of-game accomplishments related to “Halo.” In addition to the limited, early episode premieres, Halo Waypoint will debut several behind-the-scenes videos that chronicle the making of “Halo Legends.”

More information will be shared about “Halo Legends” today at a panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego. The “Halo” franchise panel will be hosted by O’Connor, moderated by Chou, and will feature guests Aramaki; Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, president of Production I.G; and Tanaka, president of STUDIO4˚C. The panel takes place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. PDT in Room 6BCF of the San Diego Convention Center. “Halo Legends” panelists will sign autographs at the Microsoft Xbox 360 booth in Hall G #5225 from 6 to 7 p.m. There also will be a signing at the Warner Bros. booth Hall F #4329 on Friday, July 24, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., with O’Connor and 343 Industries’ managing editor Kevin Grace on hand to answer questions about the project. In addition, the first trailer for “Halo Legends” will debut exclusively tonight on “GameTrailers TV with Geoff Keighley,” airing at 12:30 a.m. ET/PT on Spike TV.

BEN 10 Omniverse Episode 1 Rise of Heroes video game

TurnOut Ventures (www.turnoutventures.com), a joint venture between Turner Entertainment Holdings Asia Pacific Limited and Outblaze Investments Limited, announced today the upcoming release of BEN 10 Omniverse Episode 1: Rise of Heroes. Available on www.ben10.net in the last quarter of 2009, BEN 10 Omniverse will be a free-to-play, browser-based massively multiplayer online game divided into episodes that involve players in the adventures of the famous boy hero.

BEN 10 Omniverse will let players participate in the evolving story arc of Cartoon Network’s BEN 10 saga, featuring Ben Tennyson, a 10-year-old boy with the ability to morph into different aliens using a strange alien device called the Omnitrix. The game will advance the story through regular content updates (episodes) that also introduce new zones, quests, characters, items, and skills.

BEN 10 Omniverse is set in the five-year gap between the original BEN 10 series and BEN 10: Alien Force. It has been half a year since the defeat of Vilgax and life has become rather ordinary for the alien-morphing hero, Ben Tennyson. But one day at Bellwood Madison Elementary School, the Omnitrix that Ben wears on his wrist suddenly emits a blinding flash of light that engulfs the entire school and neighborhood. When Ben regains his vision, sections of the school are still standing while others have vanished or are floating in mid-air. Ben looks for survivors, but sees only strange alien beings milling around in confusion on the twisted, altered school grounds.

Players of BEN 10 Omniverse will create their own alien avatar whose appearance, characteristics, and skills change based on the amount and type of alien DNA absorbed. The innovative character system is based on skills and DNA rather than classes, and thus allows players to build highly customizable characters with radically different strengths and abilities. BEN 10 Omniverse will feature Player versus Environment (PvE), Player versus Player (PvP), team-based PvP, and cooperative PvE play to ensure a diverse and interactive gaming experience.

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Quest Mode unveiled for Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2 on Nintendo DS!

Tomy Corporation today released the first gameplay footage for the all-new Quest Mode in Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2, a fast-paced Naruto Shippuden 3D fighting game for Nintendo DS. The game features 34 playable characters, each equipped with their special jutsu moves, and an all-new storyline covering more of the Shippuden story arc than any other Naruto game in the market. Quest Mode allows players to take their favorite character and travel through tough mazes, battling and defeating opponents to improve character performance and level-up. The title additionally features wireless multiplayer gameplay, offering Naruto fans and newcomers to the series a competitive 3D fighting game on Nintendo DS.

To download the trailer, please visit: http://bhimpact.gamespress.com/product_page.asp?i=947

About Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2

TOMY introduces Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2, the latest installment to the popular 3D pocket fighting series, Ninja Destiny. Exclusively on the Nintendo DS, Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2 features more new Shippuden content than any other Naruto video game in 2009. With 34 playable characters, this year’s roster has seen an extreme upgrade, complete with all new attacks and cinematic jutsu moves. With the reworked Story Mode, new Quest Mode and wireless multiplayer battles, Ninja Destiny 2 puts the emphasis on action as players battle in head to head matches with Naruto and his friends.

Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2 is rated “T” for Teen with Cartoon Violence and will be available September 15, 2009 for the Nintendo DS for $29.99. For more information, please visit www.TOMY-USA.com/videogames.

Heracles Chariot Racing Now Available on WiiWare!

Neko Entertainment an independent premier video game developer and publisher announced today announced that Heracles Chariot Racing is now available throughout Europe on WiiWare. Heracles Chariot Racing is a racer that will drive players new and old to distraction, featuring ten circuits in five mythological fantasy settings, players take control of one of eight gods or legendary creatures from Heracles to Poseidon as they race to become Champion Charioteer.

“Following on our from our successful launch in North America, we are pleased to announce that Heracles Chariot Racing is now available to gamers throughout Europe via WiiWare”, said Laurent Lichnewsky, Managing Director of Neko Entertainment, “With its super fast casting action, mytholigical tracks and enemies, split screen multiplayer modes, Heracles Chariot Racing has something that will appeal to gamers of all ages”.

In Heracles Chariot Racing our hero Heracles has to undertake a challenge that none before him have survived – a chariot racing tournament. To win a series of sacred trophies and be crowned Champion Charioteer our hero has to race across mythological kingdoms against some of the most feared monsters in existence. The objectives are simple, survive the battles and race against some of the most fearsome and inventive foes in Greek mythology. Select a character and let fate, skill and ability decide the outcome!

Heracles Chariot Racing is an exciting journey into a mystical and colourful word of danger spiced with excitement, awesome weapons laced with humour. Featuring Championship, Single Player, Time Trial, Battle and intense 2 to 4 split screen multiplayer modes, players are the master of their own destinies, but with the divine actions of Gods they will require both skill and an element of luck to be crowned champions. Featuring 3 racing cups across 10 courses based on mythological fantasy settings including Nemean Lion, Realm of Hades, The Augean Stables, Stymphalian Lake and Mount Olympus, players select a character and race it out using fantasy weaponry including Zeus lightning rods, tridents, fireballs and more against their opponents.

CMSF British Forces trailer and demo for PC released NOW!

Battlefront.com is proudly releasing the official video trailer to the upcoming CMSF British Forces module today! Introducing a whole new army, the British Armed Forces, this latest module to the Combat Mission Shock Force series of modern warfare tactical ground combat simulation games will be released in July 2009 only from www.battlefront.com! Ownership of the base game CMSF (any version) is required.

CMSF British Forces will cost \$25 and will be available as download, mail order or both.

Click here to jump directly to the CMSF British Forces media section to watch the official trailer: http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=218&Itemid=329

Did we forget anything? Hm, let's think... Oh yes, the all new v1.20 demo for Combat Mission Shock Force, including British Forces and Marines content, is out now!!! With an additional and completely new British mission, the demo showcases all the new features of the latest v1.20 of the series, includes full multiplayer functionality and a total of 5 (!) missions.

Click here to download the free v1.20 Combat Mission Shock Force demo right now: http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=42&Itemid=358

LittleBigPlanet video game tops 1 million user - created levels

Sony and Media Molecule, creators of LittleBigPlanet, have announced that the game now boasts more 1,000,000 user-created levels in its database. That’s an average of one level being created ever 21 seconds since LittleBigPlanet first launched back in October / November last year.

The staggering 1m levels have been played over 244 million times.

This figure is good for Sony in more than just sales revenue terms too. The game is single-handedly carving out a really unique niche for the PS3. Microsoft has done a sort of half hearted make-your-own-games thing with the recent launch of Kodu Game Lab, but basically user-generated game content has become Sony’s baby in this generation.

That’s not to say it has been too easy getting there, though. The game was famously delayed after Qur'an references were found in the background music. LittleBigPlanet’s giant level database has been criticised for being too difficult to find particular levels in and it has faced numerous problems with copyrights, because players naturally want to try recreating other games using the LittleBigPlanet level creator. Players have also complained in the past that their creations have been unceremoniously moderated (aka deleted) for reasons unknown, although Media Molecule has since rejigged its rules on level moderation to help players out rather than annoy them.

But it’s working, clearly, and Sony is going to continue capitalising on LittleBigPlanet’s success in future – the game is due to get a PSP outing, which will only serve to widen the appeal of making custom levels once you play them on the train or at work.

Furthermore, the concept of ‘Play, Create, Share’, under which LittleBigPlanet was born (or vice versa), is also being rolled out to other games, including ModNation Racers, a racing game announced back at E3. Essentially it’s a kart racing game much akin to Mario Kart, but you get to design all the cars, tracks and racers yourself.

The Media Molecule CEO has also hinted that more LittleBigPlanet news would be coming on August 18th.

Source: T3

City of Heroes Releases First Powers Customization Images

NCsoft and Paragon Studios have released a set of five screens showing powers customization that will come to City of Heroes with Issue 16: Power Spectrum. This batch of screens includes a Blaster that changed his Electric power from blue to gold, a Controller/Dominator who chose to coordinate her Fire Imps with her costume color, as well as a Tank who decided he preferred green Ice Armor over the traditional color blue.

Also included are a couple first looks at the enhanced character creator, which in addition to allowing for powers customization, will also give players the flexibility in building their character by clicking on the menu items at the top of the screen in any order they wish.

More details about Issue 16: Power Spectrum will be revealed in the coming weeks.

About City of Heroes

City of Heroes is the most accomplished and innovative super-powered MMO, with more than 15 content expansions provided free of charge to subscribers. From its award winning character creator to its innovative user-generated content system, Mission Architect, which allows players to create and share their own unique missions and story arcs, City of Heroes continues to break the mold with unprecedented new features and systems every year, offering the most complete and customizable online gaming experience in the genre.

NinjaTrick Sets Up Shop, Allowing Users to Purchase NinjaGold for Rare, Stunning Items

CyberAgent America, Inc., a publisher of free-to-play online games, announce the availability of NinjaGold for purchase in NinjaTrick, the free-to-play multiplayer action game for everyone. Special and rare items can only be obtained in exchange for the new currency, which aspiring ninjas can purchase using any major credit card and pre-paid card through PayPal and PayByCash.

“We’ve received priceless feedback during the NinjaTrick open beta thus far, and that’s helped us make it fun, stable and solid – the game is now at a point where we’re very comfortable inviting ninjas who want that extra edge on the battlefield to purchase NinjaGold,” said Toshimichi Namba, CEO of CyberAgent America, Inc. “We’re confident that NinjaTrick's unique blend of action-oriented gameplay with MMO elements will continue to stand out in the free-to-play market.”

Microsoft Debuting Defense Grid for Xbox LIVE Arcade at San Diego Comic Con

Hidden Path Entertainment's Addictive Tower Defense Strategy Game Available Late Summer on Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Hidden Path Entertainment, an independent developer based in Bellevue Washington, today revealed that its critically acclaimed Defense Grid: The Awakening, soon to be released on Xbox LIVE Arcade, will be unveiled July 24 at the Microsoft booth at San Diego Comic-Con International. Defense Grid: The Awakening’s unique spin on tower defense gameplay appeals to gamers of all skill levels.

Defense Grid features beautiful environments, spectacular effects, and a dynamic, engaging soundtrack. The controls are intuitive and the gameplay is deep - the special attacks and properties of each tower work together to provide many ways to succeed. Defense Grid: The Awakening will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade later this summer.

“San Diego Comic-Con is great place to let players first experience the Xbox LIVE Arcade version of Defense Grid: The Awakening,” said Jeff Pobst, CEO and co-founder of Hidden Path Entertainment. “This latest version of Defense Grid includes many new features such as the Borderland Mission Pack, with four new advanced levels and 12 challenge modes, three brand new challenge types and thirty new challenge modes in the story mode. We have found that everyone – from core gamers to novice players – loves the scalable strategy and gameplay variables that make Defense Grid: The Awakening a game that can be enjoyed repeatedly with new outcomes.”

Defense Grid: The Awakening for Xbox LIVE Arcade is built on Emergent’s Gamebryo engine (Oblivion, Warhammer Online, Civilization IV) and features 12 hours of story play, 24 unique environments across the Awakening campaign and four bonus Borderlands maps, plus over 100 unlockable challenge modes. Critics have repeatedly lauded Defense Grid’s excellent game balance, pace and progression. With each level, players encounter different placement of roads, tower build locations, and open areas to plan a strategy around. Each map, whether open plan or fixed route, encourages a different strategy, such as trying to find an optimal path to redirect enemies, making the best use of limited space, and breaking up individual enemy waves to avoid being overwhelmed, all while planning ahead for future waves.

There are 10 different tower types that can each be upgraded twice. These towers all have unique tradeoffs that affect ideal placement, such as line-of-sight attack or ballistic trajectory fire; a large area of effect or damage over time; and minimum and maximum ranges. Over the course of the game, players battle 15 different types of enemies, each with unique capabilities and strategies.

First music playform video game Maestro! Jump in Music

Pasta Games is pleased to announce its latest creation MAESTRO! JUMP IN MUSIC. The game is a truly unique concept combining traditional platform games and the pleasure of music creation in a way that is both astounding and natural – after you see it.

The game will be available this autumn for Nintendo DS.

Discover Presto, the music-loving bird, and make him evolve in a colorful, decibel-filled journey. Use the stylus to scrape, rub, tap and whirl to the rhythm of the level’s music and like a good Maestro, stick to the original. Presto will jump or get off a platform in the order in which you strum the string, flying with his small wings to reach the music score.

During the game numerous challenges will require your utmost attention: special strings, flying enemies, targets to knock down as fast as lightning… all this in order to create a symphony with your fingertips. But don’t be satisfied with just a few jingles: chorus singing will earn you many more points!

MAESTRO! JUMP IN MUSIC is one of the first games to truly make the most of the Nintendo DS microphone, allowing players to indulge themselves singing their heads off! You can let your vocal cords loose with the 18 songs featured in this game. What better way to liven up your fellow passengers whilst on a long underground trip?

Breaking the stagnant musical game mould, MAESTRO! JUMP IN MUSIC allows you to rediscover great classics such as Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, one of Brahms’ Hungarian Dances or Dvorak’s Symphony “From the New World”, including crazy interpretations of contemporary themes such as “Fame”, “ABC” or “Our House”.

Graphically the game has its own style blending 2D and true 3D graphics to produce an inimitable look. You can discover six different worlds, ranging from an aquatic setting to a Far West environment, each with their own specific sounds. Andiamo!